Robert j



' R; J. JOHNSON; CARPET FASTENER.

Patented Jan. 6,1891,

(No Model.)

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g%NESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J. JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CARPET-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,201, dated January 6, 1891.

Application filed August 19, 1890.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT J. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpet Looks or Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lock for carpets; and it consists of a suitable case to be attached to the baseboard at intervals ,having within verticallydisposed rack-bars, the lower ends of which project from the case and have right-angled extensions provided with teeth on their lower edges which rest on the carpet. The case is further provided with an arbor which carries small toothed gears to engage with the rackbars, so that the bars can be turned up or down by means of a key. Pawls are provided to hold the bars at any desired point, as will hereinafter be pointed out in detail. It is desirable to provide a means of holding carpets without the use of tacks.

This invention is to be attached permanently to the base-boards near the floor, so that the teeth of the movable bars can be pressed down on the carpet, thereby holding the same without the use of tacks.

Figure 1 is the front view of the lock attached to the base-board. Fig. 2 is an edge view partly in section, and Fig. 3 a horizontal section through line x of Fig. l.

The case is composed of two parts A B, held together by means of screws O. The rear part of the shell B is provided with vertical guides D E, between which are placed the vertical bars F, the lower ends of which project from the lower end of the case. Each bar has a right angled extension G, provided on theirlower edges with teeth H. The outer edge of each bar, near its upper end, is provided with teeth I, which teeth engage with Serial No. 362,409. (No model.)

a small pinion J on the key-arbor K. Below the teeth I the edge is provided with ratchetteeth 'L, into which the pawl M acts. This pawl has an arm N, which projects out of the edge of the case. A spring 0 on the upper side of the pawl is normally in contact with the ratchet-teeth. The lock thus constructed is secured to the base-board by means of screws P.

A series of gear-wheels may be substituted for the gears J, and other means than the key may be employed to move the rack-bars F F or bars having plain ends instead of the teeth H for use in case it is desired to clamp oil-cloth instead of the carpet.

I place these locks along on the base-board R at intervals as permanent fixtures, and when the carpet is stretched in position the bars F are forced down by the key Q, thus holding the carpet in place without the use of tacks.

The case A can be made ornamental, thus adding to the desirability of the article, and as the case occupies but little space it is never in the way of furniture and not liable to damage or be damaged by articles in the room.

What I claim as new is- A carpet lock or clamp composed of a case having therein one or more vertically-movable rack-bars, with an arbor and pinion for moving said bar and pawl-and-ratchet teeth for holding the same, said rack-bar having its lower end serrated to engage with the carpet, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 18th day of August, A. D. 1890.

ROBERT J. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

J. S. ZERBE, I. S. ELKINS. 

